Free Bound by Bliss by Lavinia Kent Page B

what the Countess had meant by that remark and he could not help but wonder what doors Bliss had been listening at. “I will stay, but only if you trust me and do as I say.”
    “Fine.” She was not pleased, although he did not miss the hint of a smile that played about her lips. She did like to think she’d won.
    “First”—he swung the cloak off his shoulders and held it out—“put this on.”
    “I was wondering why you were wearing a cloak. It is a warm evening.”
    “I was prepared for just this difficulty. Now put it on.”
    “But I like how I look as a young man.” The lower lip came out.
    “Put it on.” He filled his voice with command.
    Her breath caught and she stared at him. With a slight tremble to her fingers she reached out and took the cloak, draping it about her shoulders.
    His prick jumped at her obedience. He refused to consider all that might mean. “Wrap it tight.”
    “It is too warm.”
    This time he did not even need to use words; he let the glare of his eyes say it all.
    She wrapped herself, pulling the coat closed with only the slightest glare. Her hands shook, and clearly not with fear.

    That greatly improved the situation, but she was still quite recognizable, perhaps more so. Her ass in tight breeches had definitely been a distraction that might have kept some men from staring at her face. He could take care of that, however. Reaching into his coat’s pocket he pulled out a blue satin half-mask, the ribbon ties trailing at its sides. He held it out.
    “You can’t expect me to wear that. I’ll draw every eye in the place.”
    Again he said nothing.
    “Blast, blast, and blast,” she mumbled under her breath as she reached out and took the mask. “I really do need to work on more curses.”
    He wasn’t quite sure he’d heard the last, but given that this was Bliss, he probably had. “There will, with some likelihood, be several others in masks. Many wish to hide their identity at Madame Rouge’s. It is part of the appeal.”
    “You will have to tie it for me.” She held it over her face and turned her back to him. “And be careful of my hair, nobody will think me a boy if it falls about my shoulders. I spent an hour trying to wrap it under so that it would look shorter. I do wish it were not so heavy.” As soon as the mask was tied, she turned about and looked at him through the eyeholes. “And why would anyone wear a mask at a gentleman’s club? Swanston always said that all that happened in them was that men drank port, read the papers, played cards, and gossiped like women. I never did understand why Lady Ormande thought it was so important I go, but I did trust her opinion. I am not even sure how she managed to visit so often. I thought these places did not allow women.”

    That stopped him. Bliss didn’t know what Madame Rouge’s was? She truly thought it was a gentleman’s club. He should just have taken her to White’s or Boodle’s. She probably would not have known the difference. Although—and he smiled at the thought—it would have been a good deal harder to sneak her into White’s than into Ruby’s. Hell, he didn’t have to sneak her into Ruby’s, he only had to guard her identity. He let his gaze wander over her full lips. Had it been wishful thinking on his part to believe she wanted to visit Ruby’s? He’d hoped she was curious about sexual matters, but he’d clearly jumped ahead a mile or two. Her response to watching Lord Banks and then their kiss had placed some very definite thoughts in his mind.
    Maybe if she realized what Ruby’s was he’d be free of this ridiculous endeavor—which is what he should want. He fought to suppress his desire to see her face again flooded with arousal. “Madame Rouge’s is not exactly a gentleman’s club.”
    “It’s not? That is the name, isn’t it? Madame Rouge’s Club for Gentlemen of Taste? If it’s not a gentleman’s club why would the Countess have thought it would be fun? I mean, I can